Is it common to ask the lawyer for a discount on the fee if the case is not that complicated?
- Thread Starter Rico_2013
- Start date
army judge
Moderator
You asked, "Is it common to ask the lawyer for a discount on the fee if the case is not that complicated?"
Nothing prevents an attorney's prospective clients, and/or any of her/his active clients from inquiring about potential discounts/adjustments on the attorney's fees.
Additionally, nothing prevents YOU from seeking the services of other attorneys whose pricing might be more to your liking or bank account.
Thank you. What is the usual rate in Boston, Massachusetts?
army judge
Moderator
I'm not licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. However, I remain friends with three people from Massachusetts who attended and graduated from the same law school I did. Over the years, we'd cross paths and stay in communication. I'm told that lawyers practicing in MA charge some of the highest rates across the USA.
Read the following and perhaps you'll weep.
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Attorney Fees & Legal Costs in Massachusetts
Comprehensive breakdown of legal service costs across all practice areas in Massachusetts.[th]
[/TR]Practice Area
[/th][th]Low Estimate
[/th][th]Average Cost
[/th][th]High Estimate
[/th][th]Court Filing Fee
[/th]| Divorce & Family Law | $6,000 | $55,000 | $215 | Details |
| DUI / DWI Defense | $3,000 | $20,000 | Free / Contingency | Details |
| Criminal Defense | $3,500 | $90,000 | $350 | Details |
| Personal Injury | Free / Contingency | Free / Contingency | $350 | Details |
| Bankruptcy | $1,800 | $9,000 | $338 | Details |
| Real Estate Law | $1,500 | $7,000 | Free / Contingency | Details |
| Immigration Law | $2,500 | $17,000 | Free / Contingency | Details |
| Estate Planning | $700 | $9,000 | Free / Contingency | Details |
| Business Law | $2,000 | $25,000 | $500 | Details |
| Traffic Violations | $250 | $1,500 | Free / Contingency | Details |
[th]
Practice Area
[/th][th]Low Estimate
[/th][th]Average Cost
[/th][th]High Estimate
[/th][th]Court Filing Fee
[/th][th]
[/th][/TR] [td]$18,000[/td][td]$7,000[/td][td]$15,000[/td][td]Free / Contingency[/td][td]$4,000[/td][td]$3,500[/td][td]$8,000[/td][td]$3,000[/td][td]$6,000[/td][td]$600[/td]
Legal Costs in Massachusetts (MA) - Attorney Fees & Court Costs 2026
Compare legal costs in Massachusetts for 2026. Average attorney hourly rate: $400/hr. Find divorce, DUI, criminal defense, personal injury, bankruptcy, and other legal service costs in MA.
legalfeesbystate.com
Tax Counsel
Moderator
Most prospective nonbusiness clients do not try to negotiate over fees, much like they don't try to negotiate doctor bills, tax preparation fees, vet bills, the cost of stuff they buy at stores, or much of anything. American consumers grow up learning that the price on the tag is always the price they pay. So instead of negotiating the price, they instead shop around different stores or providers for the lowest quoted price or rate.
Business people, by contrast, are more willing to try negotiating a price or fee, often with more than one provider, to find the best item or person at the best rate.
I've learned over the years that there are a lot of things that can be negotiated, but there are some things that are pretty set. Prices on low margin (profit) items often are priced take it or leave it because the seller has little room to drop the price without losing money the deal. Any price that is set by the government won't be negotiated. And it's easier to negotiate with smaller businesses and self-employed people than it is to negotiate with a huge corporation (unless you are the head of a big business yourself than can buy in volume). I've also discovered that there is no offense in attempting to negotiate for a good or service that has enough of a profit margin that the seller/provider has some room to negotiate, as long as your offer is not so low as to be insulting. The worst that can happen is they say no, in which case you take the rate they offer or keep looking around for another seller or service provider to do it less expensively.
Just keep in mind that when hiring professional like doctors, lawyers, architects, etc that the lowest fee is not always the best deal. If you want to get someone who is really good, you're going to end up paying more for that.
Business people, by contrast, are more willing to try negotiating a price or fee, often with more than one provider, to find the best item or person at the best rate.
I've learned over the years that there are a lot of things that can be negotiated, but there are some things that are pretty set. Prices on low margin (profit) items often are priced take it or leave it because the seller has little room to drop the price without losing money the deal. Any price that is set by the government won't be negotiated. And it's easier to negotiate with smaller businesses and self-employed people than it is to negotiate with a huge corporation (unless you are the head of a big business yourself than can buy in volume). I've also discovered that there is no offense in attempting to negotiate for a good or service that has enough of a profit margin that the seller/provider has some room to negotiate, as long as your offer is not so low as to be insulting. The worst that can happen is they say no, in which case you take the rate they offer or keep looking around for another seller or service provider to do it less expensively.
Just keep in mind that when hiring professional like doctors, lawyers, architects, etc that the lowest fee is not always the best deal. If you want to get someone who is really good, you're going to end up paying more for that.
